Breast density - we want your input

I hope a little about my story may help. I had my first mammogram in 2012 after I had some green discharge from both breasts. I was told due to the density of my breasts, I required an ultrasound, which I then had. I was advised that I had benign ducal ectasia, and due to the fact that my maternal aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer at 60, it would be a good idea to have screening mammograms every 2 years after the age of 40. I wasn’t told that the density of my breasts increased my risk of cancer, just that my family history of my aunt meant i should be screened from 40.  I then had a screening mammogram through breast screen in 2016 at 41. My breasts looked and felt the same. They were the same size and shape. I didn’t have any lumps, and there had been no more discharge since 2012. Again, I was told that due to the density of my breasts on the mammogram, I required an ultrasound, which I then had. The ultrasound identified an area approx 2cm in my left breast which was biopsied and showed ducal carcinoma grade 2. My surgeon commented that due to the density of my breasts, my cancer had been very difficult to see even on the ultrasound. He recommended a breast MRI to get a clearer look. The MRI was not funded by Medicare and cost a little over $600. The MRI showed my tumour was actually 9cm! It was therefore recommended that I have chemo before surgery to try to shrink my cancer, then mastectomy followed by radiotherapy. I had chemo first then chose to have a double mastectomy in march 2017 due to my cancer being so difficult to find due to my breast density. I am happy to report I am now cancer free! I will always wonder if there was any disease on my 2012 mammogram that was missed due to my breast density, its hard to believe a 9cm tumour appeared in under 4 years, but I will never know the answer to that. I have had my treatment through the public system in Victoria.